Three major US egg producers have struck an agreement with the Department of Justice and 17 states on allegations the companies manipulated egg prices.
In a statement yesterday (29 June), the New York State Attorney General’s office said Cal-Maine Foods, Versova and Hickman’s Egg Ranch will supply a total of 53 million eggs to food banks and non-profit organisations in the states.
The suppliers will also make $3.3m in payments to the 17 states, which also include California, Texas and Florida.
According to the New York State Attorney General’s office, Cal-Maine Foods, Versova/Centrum and Hickman’s Egg Ranch co-ordinated between about June 2022 and March 2025 to influence a daily egg price index, leading to higher prices for retailers and consumers across the US.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said: “When powerful corporations collude behind the scenes to raise prices, working families suffer the costs. These egg producers manipulated the market to squeeze even more profit out of consumers and businesses.”
In a separate statement, publicly listed Cal-Maine said the agreement followed a 15-month-long investigation by the DoJ that "centred broadly on whether egg producers that had organised a cooperative to supply eggs to customers in compliance with cage-free requirements in certain markets were attempting to manipulate an industry price index by sharing information about bidding activities".
Cal-Maine said it was a member of the cooperative but left the tie-up in May 2024, "prior to and unrelated to the initiation of the DoJ’s investigation".
In the statement, the company said it had “cooperated fully in the comprehensive review process” and “denies all wrongdoing and violations of law”.
Cal-Maine added it would donate 30 million eggs and pay $1.5m to the states.
Versova said it would give 20 million eggs over the course of three years and make a one-time monetary payment of $800,000, both of which will be divided between the 17 states.
The company added: “It is our responsibility to follow the law in all areas of our business, including when it comes to how we buy and sell eggs. We are pleased the US Department of Justice investigation has been resolved without any finding of or admission of wrongdoing.
“Our decision to accept this settlement simply reflects our firm intention to put this matter behind us and focus on our business.”
Just Food has approached Hickman’s Egg Ranch for comment.
